(29 October 2016) Here is a suggestion that your advanced planning should include obituary material. We write wills, medical directives, and even long autobiographies. But though an obituary, or obit, we can share our lives and days in USIA/State with our family, friends, and former colleagues. Newspapers may not carry extensive obits, and a lengthy paid obit is expensive. But in this technological era, emails, social networks, and […]

(29 October 2016) The November 2016 First Monday Forum features a discussion by two experts on China’s news coverage of the U.S. election. The event takes place on Monday, 7 November 2016 — the day before the election — at American Foreign Service Association in Washington, D.C.

Leading the discussion are two observers who bring an up-close perspective on the subject. Jim Laurie is a 40-year journalist and broadcaster, much […]

(Updated 14 November 2016) On November 14, PDAA welcomed two outstanding foreign policy leaders with great affinity for public diplomacy – Tara Sonenshine and Kristin Lord – to discuss the new President’s global challenges. Well known for their public service and engagement with the State Department, both have distinguished themselves in other areas of government, the private sector, the media and academia. Tara […]

(18 October 2016). A lunch-time discussion on Wednesday, 26 October at DACOR-Bacon House in Washington, D.C. examines Russia’s use of digital media in Western societies. The discussion will be led by Miika Tomi, a Fulbright Scholar at Georgetown University.

The program is titled, “Does the truth matter in the age of digital media?” In the new era of citizen journalism, the masses have been empowered to produce and receive information. As a […]

Photography class at University of the Arts in Havana, Cuba. January 2013 (A. Kotok)

(16 October 2016) The Public Diplomacy Council is launching its first photography contest, to capture visual portrayals of public diplomacy in action. There is no entrance fee for the Images of Public Diplomacy contest, and deadline for entries is 30 January 2017.

“This exhibition will express the meaning, impact and significance of public diplomacy through striking images,” says Adam Clayton […]